Chapter 53

People, it's to be expected that I wake up in the hospital. And you would be right because I did. I woke up in a hospital bed, physically. Mentally, I was in hell because I was sure that I had died. I was so sure that I wouldn't make it, just because the pain was so great; and because I survived too much and figured my luck was out.

"Albany?" I heard a soft and gentle voice whisper, as if slowly pulling me towards the surface. It sounded like Emily... I went near it and as I did, the more my pain came back; the more conscious I became. I felt the need there... to push. To move forward towards the top and the break of surface

"Shh, don't wake her, sweetie. She'll wake up when she can," I heard another voice a moment later, seemingly louder, closer and deeper. I went towards it, the darkness around me turning more into white light and consciousness.

It took me a moment in the darkness to fully realize and reach my destination. I became more aware of my surroundings. The sweet smell of wherever I was, the silence behind every breath of mine. I heard some mumbling as well and though the words were too quiet to understand fully, I knew there were people around me. I could feel eyes resting on me, the gentle breaths in the room colliding together. I heard the slight ring of a beep, the annoying repeating rhythm dancing inside me. As every second passed with that slow annoying ring, the scent of sweetness filling me, the small murmuring... the more awake I came to be.

When I opened my eyes, I didn't understand why I was staring up at a ceiling. It should be the Earth I fell from into Hell. My vision cleared and a scared silence surrounded me. As well as a shit ton of pain pulsing in my body, sharp and sore. With that terrible pain spread over my body came the reason why I was hurt even more clearly.

It hit me all at once. Everything.

I was chased by Mark. In every way you can be chased it seemed. It ended in me upside down in Luke's truck on the side of the road, gasoline drenched over me. Then the next thing that happened came to my mind. That I was going to die. I remembered the pain being much worse than it is now. I was about to be burned to death in a matter of seconds. It was really rather amusing. I figured Mark was just trying to give me a quick transition into hell by liting me on fire considering that's all that would be keeping me busy in hell anyway. But Luke saved me. He came, pulled me out, saved me then he shot Mark down. Five shots, I recall all too clearly.

I felt my lips part and I breathed deeper, my sight coming back even more as I blinked. But my mind was still exsiting in a different world. Because what I recall even more clearly was what occurred before all of that. The strong moment Luke and I shared together. Oh god, it was so much more vivid too than the rush that happened directly after. I couldn't stop seeing it in my head again as I laid there, facing up. Those gorgeous tortured eyes before his longing lips. His strong bare arms wrapping around my body and holding me against him... holding me by my hair against his crazed lips when he wrapped me against him in his lap... Oh god Luke. What has that man done to me to make my mind surrender to him and not something that neary killed me instead?

I closed my eyes, wanting to go back under and rest. But that voice... it sounded just like Emily's and it spoke again. "I think she's up, daddy. Look!"

I couldn't give that up to go back under just because I was tired. I missed Emily so much.... I kept my eyes wide open, trying to stay awake as I heard more movement take place in the room. When I finally was able to turn my head in the desperate desire to find the source of that voice, my heart fell to ice with no relief of that of Emily.

When my eyes found her, I grew cold again of disappointment that it wasn't Emily. Brooke gave me a gentle smile, her small shy lips tilting up under her big beautiful eyes. It was torture. She not only looked like her, she sounded like her or so I thought those few seconds ago. Brooke's features came more into focus as did the rest of my surroundings. The hospital bed, the cords hooked up to me, all the machines beside my bed, and all the people sitting around in the small room.

My eyes looked around more frantically and it registered. I was in a hospital.... I felt and heard the rate of my heart change and along with an already sick feeling inside me, the hurt was growing at the knowledge of where I was.

Before I had the chance to react as I would to being in a hospital - sitting up and trying to get the hell out - something held me back. I felt myself gasp and try to sit up in haste, needing out. Out! I couldn't go through this again, no more! No more doctors, no more inaccurate and false tests, no more harassment's and being bound to a bed leaving me helpless...

Someone grasped my arm or rather, already was before I reacted. The strong grip kept me down and against the bed when I instantly tried to get up. What ever was keeping me pinned down was making the pain in me increase a little, making me grunt as I tried my hardest to raise myself up. But I was just so drained and weak, it didn't take much for whoever it was to keep me down.

"It's okay, it's okay," a husky voice said, close to my side. I wanted to find the source of whoever this was so as I turned towards that voice, I looked into his kind and sympathetic eyes. Not Luke's but I surprisingly saw that it was Mike. His pursed lips and tight grip on my arm kept me down as I stared in fright through his eyes. I wasn't sure what to think, even if I trusted Mike. Right now, I didn't want to even trust myself. "You're safe and we wont let anything happen to you, hon. Especially that badass son-of-mine cop that wouldn't stop making sure everything was perfect for you," he said, the words reaching the air holding a tone of amusment.

Waking up in a hospital was enough of a shock to last me a good year after all the events that were still reoccurring in my head. It took me a moment to register his words completely and after staring into his raw honest eyes, I knew he was right. I was safe, despite my past experiences at the doctors or in the hospital before. I wasn't here for tests, or because Clare beat my ass bad enough, or so the doctors could purposefully harass me. I was here with reason and whatever they do to me here will be because of that reason - because I was hurt very badly. Not to mention, I had enough people in the room to know I was okay. Strangely, looking around, my eyes stopped on where they all sat at attention around the bed.

Brooke was the first person I saw. Now, I let myself assess that Francis was here too, supporting his daughter who sat in his lap. Francis's eyebrows were creased in absolute worry, his lips thin and his body full of tension. When he saw that my eyes fell on him, he gave me a reassuring smirk. But I was able to see right behind it, the guilt that was thriving under his skin. I'm sure that had to do with leaving just before Mark showed up. He should know that was completely my own stupid fault.

Sitting next to Francis was Jan, her gentle eyes full of sympathy like Mike's was. She gave me a loving smile when I looked to her, showing me her complete support. She looked somewhat messy - which sounded worse than it really was. More like shook up I guess you could say or not really prepared in her perfectness like she usually was.

I noticed right away Luke wasn't in the room. But Mike's words rung loud and clear. That he was off his rocker in worry, making sure everything was comfortable, safe, and reassuring for me. It was so beautiful, even if I didn't know where he was now. Because I at least had a good understanding with those words and just how he is that he is around here somewhere if he wasn't in my sight.

Clare wasn't here either but I mean really, was that such a shocker? After all, she is such a loving and involved mother. How I wished it was her Luke repeatedly shot and not Mark. I'd rather it be that bitch any day.

Thoughts of her didn't last quick when my eyes continued through the room and landed on a small table by the window. I was more shocked by whatever the hell this was than the people here to visit me. The fact that they brought me flowers, dozens of them in elaborate vases. I saw a few balloons and some small teddy bears next to the flowers, facing the bed where I rested now. I only ever heard about things like this happening; people getting things when they were ill or maybe hurt. Something like 'get well soon' or whatever that is. I never thought I would ever receive anything like their sympathy let alone flowers and other small gifts for it too.

I didn't understand my issue or what the hell was wrong with me. Because while my eyes looked over everything they brought then back to those wonderful people themselves... I felt myself crack. Like a pathetic little toy, too fragile to be handled with such hate then absolute love. Love. I was unfamiliar with the word in every aspect of it when it was being aimed at me.

I felt my eyes go over all their caring faces again. Who would do this for me... who would bring me these things? Who would bother to sit and wait until I wake up? I knew Luke cared but why did they have to do the same? It wasn't like I was feeling sorry for myself, I just didn't really know how to deal with this or what to think of it. It was just so... unheard of for me.

I felt the compelling nature of tears want to escape my eyes and I forced them down, not willing to cry. I can't keep breaking like this, being so weak in front of people. I just... was so taken over by what they did for me. By just being here. They were the closest thing to family I had. I wished in that moment that more than ever, Mike and Jan were my parents. I wouldn't have minded that at all.

"Albany!" I heard her small voice come to life and my heart jumped more at that innocent and loving voice. Looking to her, I watched as she climbed down off her dad's lap before he could do anything and she climbed up the side of my bed as quick as she could. I felt my lips tilt up in watching her. So beautiful and innocent... my heart hurt just watching her. Though her grandparents and dad quickly protested, she didn't listen. I kind of liked that about her.

She came to kneel right in front of me, careful not to pull any cords from IVs or hurt me in any way. She bit her lip, her cheeks blushing slightly as she looked at me. Though there was still some look of caution in her eyes, I knew she liked me and I enjoyed that more than I figured I would. I gave her an amused smile, unsure of how one acts around children. It all seemed so fake, the way adults go about acting in front of children. But I wont lie, she was very cute and I adored her.

She was quick to raise her hand a second later after she settled on the bed and pointed off to the side, near the table. "D-Did you see?! Did you see the presents we got you!" She asked, all excited.

"Honey, you should give Al--" Jan started but Brooke continued to speak, seeing this as a very important job to tell me.

"Did you see them Albany? I got you the yellow ones right there! Those there," she pointed again, making sure I saw. "And I picked out that little bear right there," she pointed over to the little brown bear that held a small heart with a cute face. "Do you like them?"

I could only smile at her, despite the amount of pain I began to feel. I rested my head back against the pillow, looking down to her and nodded. "Yes. I saw them and they look beautiful," I told her instantly with a bright smile. "Thank you so much! I love the flowers you always seem to get me," I said, recalling that not a few days ago, she brought me a flower after Clare kicked my ass at school. Anymore flowers and I'll be a true pansy.

As I watched her kneeling there, still trying to process everything and not think about crying, Brooke leaned forward and wrapped her arms around my neck gently, giving me a heart breaking hug. "No matter how strong daddy acts around you, he was very worried and sad you got hurt," she whispered quietly in my ear so he wouldn't hear.

Her words made my insides hurt more than they probably should have. I didn't like the fact that it was Francis that felt sad and worried over me. He shouldn't for the fact that it wasn't his issue and for the fact that I was fine now. Regardless, lightly, I raised my hands as much as I could, giving her a hug back.

It was clear that they weren't happy at how abrupt Brooke was acting. But once she said that and I hugged her back as best as I could, my eyes couldn't help but fall to Francis. He always kept a good face and through I knew he felt guilty, it meant more coming from Brooke. If she was able to notice her father's misery, it must have been something of great power. I looked at him with different eyes.

His hazel eyes met mine through his thick glasses and they radiated so much power, I wasn't sure what to think. Absolute guilt and relief filled his beautiful eyes and I wasn't sure I ever saw a look so... intimate or vulnerable from him. It nearly amounted to the power sometimes given to me by one of Luke's stares.

"I'll go get Lucas," I heard Jan say, my eyes finding her after Brooke moved away from my arms. Watching Jan, I saw her stand up from where she was sitting. Her caring eyes met mine when she stood and she answered my questioning gaze. "He wouldn't sit in here and wait with us. I think it was too much for him. I'll get him now that you're up."

Luke couldn't take sitting in here while I was unconscious? It was too much for him...? I didn't like that at all. He was in that much pain that he didn't want the reminder of what was causing it. If Francis was beating himself up as it was, I understood now just how bad Luke must feel where he couldn't even be in the same room where I rested. It hurt him too much to see me, see my abused body... I can only imagine the shit he is going through with everything that happened.

Jan pursed her lips and I watched as she moved towards the door which she soon opened and left. Going to get Luke. This would be interesting I guess you could say. I wasn't sure what to expect from him after all that has happened. I personally would have gotten drunk or something along those lines. But I wasn't Luke.

A moment after she left, she was soon to return, and in tow, was her son. Supporting a white button up shirt and jeans, I took him in the second he was in sight. I felt and heard my heart jump in beats and felt the torturing twisting of a pain in my chest. When his eyes met mine... I wasn't sure what to do. Because it was just so beautiful to see him look at me with such a gaze. One filled with desire and relief and anxiousness. His thick eyebrows raised along with the light in those jade puddles, his breath growing as well I noticed. Eyes searching mine, he froze in place as his mother went back to sit down next to Francis. All he could manage was just standing there and staring at me. I loved it, loved that stare, despite everything that has happened.

It was as if everything faded, all but him. I watched his facial expression shift and he bit his lip after a quiet moment. I hurt so badly... just seeing him here, now, and so dedicated to make everything perfect in my condition, my breaths grew jagged too. He was so beautiful, his hair shinning with the light that was entering through the windows. It lit his hair, his eyes, all of him until all I could see was my loving angel here to protect me.

Though I was amazed at his presence, I grew ashamed at the same time. He saved me, was there for me all this time.... And now, here I was again. Weak and bound, helpless. I wished there was just once where he didn't have to have such a small image of me that reminded him of how damaged I was. I was embarrassed and could feel that shame start to feel me when he looked into my eyes. However, he didn't seem to concerned over anything besides the fact that I was awake now.

"H-Hi..." I heard him say, voice higher than normal. He tried to even out his breaths when he took me in more. I watched as he slowly began to move again, walking towards me more. Moving towards the side of the bed, he carefully sat down, right on the edge near my outstretched legs under the covers. Brooke, still sitting up on the bed before me, looked between me and Luke before she climbed back down and off the bed. She made her way the few feet it took to get back to her father. Francis then proceeded to pick her up and put her on his lap.

"Hey," I breathed, only half present when he came to sit on the bed next to me. I pursed my own lips, sighing internally and not sure what else to say. Not when everything had come back to me; everything that happened and all that was said.

Luke took a deep breath, adverting his eyes for a moment to the floor. Not a second later though did he direct his attention up and to look to his family that sat next to me in the plastic chairs each room had, I assume. "Do you guys think Albany can have a moment to talk?"

"They don't need to leave," I said, somewhat out of nowhere considering I havn't spoken more than a few words since I've been up. But I loved the feeling that was surrounding me, the warmth they all gave me. And that's not to mention the security they seemed to offer me in such a place.

He met my eyes again after I spoke and his eyebrows lowered. He tried dissecting my words and after a moment of silence, he shook his head slowly. "No, I need to speak with you in private."

I sighed but said nothing, watching him still. However, when Mike stood and then Jan, my attention shifted to them. Mike looking down at me when he stood up, he leaned down and patted my hand where it rested on the covers, giving me a soft smile. "Get better, kid. We'll always be here for you," he said, eyes gentle and I watched as he took Jan's hand, who was standing at his side next to my bed.

Looking up at her kind eyes, I watched as she slowly bent over and closer to me. Jan leaning over me, she bent down and I watched in a daze and she pressed her lips against my forehead before she stood back up. I wasn't sure how I felt about it but all I knew was that this much affection wasn't healthy when given to me all at the same time. It was shock, really. But I accepted it nonetheless. Giving me a sympathetic smile herself, she and Mike then turned away and headed for the door.

Glancing to where Francis wrapped his arms around Brooke's small figure, he began to stand up. As he did though, Brooke's lips moved into a tight scowl. Looking at me in her father's arms, she said, "No, I don't want to leave Albany."

"We will visit with her later. Right now, her and Uncle Luke need some alone time," Francis whispered to her, his hand that wasn't supporting her raised and brushed her soft hair back. His genuine smile aimed at her then found mine and a spark lit his stare, one I admired and couldn't help but respond back to with my own smile.

It was much longer then the only thing left in the room besides me and Luke was the unbearable silence that always seemed to accompany us. My eyes finding his, I sat up a little more, getting a better look at him and more comfortable. He was sitting a few feet away next to my legs but he seemed much closer with how suffocated I began to feel. I think he understood that right now wasn't the best time to do this. And that was what I knew was coming: a long talk over everything. Joy.

"We need to talk," he whispered, his eyes falling to the bed.

I sighed. "No shit."

He pursed his lips, his eyes still down and refusing to meet mine at first. After a moment though, he forced his stare up to me. "First, I want you to answer my question. Why did you run away?"

Oh boy. So this was where this talk was going to lead us. So much for the 'get well soon' deal because I was nearly positive being interrogated didn't fall under that. The last time he asked that question, we stood in our kitchen the night after he picked me up from being caught and arrested. He wanted some answers and when I didn't give it to him, he slammed me against the wall and kissed me like I was his last chance for air. Except now, I knew he needed to get an answer from me. He deserved that much from me and more from what I put him through.

"Because I needed to," I said. "I ran away because Clare threatened me. She told me that if you left her or discovered the truth (anything that would end in your marriage ending), that she would kill me. So when you found out the truth about her, I was scared. I was sure that you were going to confront her on it. Then she would know it was over and she would come after me."

"Didn't you think that if I confronted her on the matter that I would be more determined than ever to protect you? Didn't you think that since I found out the truth, I would arrest her?"

I shook my head, sighing. It was complicted and he was about to find out just how so that was. "No, you wouldn't have been able to arrest her. There isn't enough evidence and because of that, she would remain free until other evidence is found. And if she were free and knew you were trying to build a case against her, she would kill me. The only way for me to stay safe is if she never finds out that you know that truth."

He groaned, closing his eyes for a moment. He took a hard and long breath, not liking this at all. I knew what he was thinking. He wished I would have told him all this before I ran away. But he needed to know why I didn't. Because if I told him, he would have come up with another plan. One that would involve him being trapped. The plan that was now about to come out.

"Albany, if you had just told me about this... if you told me she threatened you, you know I would have acted with caution. You know I would hold off on facing her if it meant it ensured your safety."

"But I didn't want that," I said quickly after. Didn't he get it? I ran away because if I stayed, it would put us in a tight position. Where Luke would have to stay 'loyal' to Clare if he didn't want her knowing that she was discovered. Because if Clare knew she was discovered, she would come after me. I explained everything to Luke. "Understand this. If I stayed, you wouldn't have been able to openly show her that you figured her out. Because if I was around and she realized you knew everything, I would have been accessible to her to kill. I wanted you to face her, leave her, and be free and that couldn't happen without me getting killed. I ran so she wouldn't have been able to hurt me if you openly accused her. You could have moved out, divorced her, openly searched for evidence if I was gone and therefore safe."

His breaths noticeably increased, eyes wild and in mine at what I just said and revealed. "So... you ran because of me? You ran so I wouldn't have been stuck continuing to lie and show her I was still loyal."

"Yes. Because if I was here, you would feel the need to protect me. To watch over me until she is locked away. And that would mean continue living with her in a deep lie until we have enough evidence to put her away."

He shook his head slowly, his eyes showing absolute amazement at the thought I put behind this. The reason I ran and the fact that it was because I wanted him to be free of her. He scoffed and eyes were burning with pure emotion, his lips tightening after I saw him swallow hard. It was a lot to take it. But he took it in.

"I can't believe this," he whispered.

"Why?"

He looked at me with wide eyes, that expression asking as if I was seriously asking why he was astonished at the moment. "Because, Albany, you were willing to give up your life, to run away because you would rather me be free and openly fight Clare than suffer thought trying to secretly get the evidence I need. Don't you understand...?" he asked, voice more quiet and with each second my eyes were lost in his, I felt the need for my insides to start to quiver in feeling.

I watched as he shifted more up and near me until he was but a few feet away from where my head rested against the pillow propped against the back of the bed. My breath caught and I could once again hear my heart rate pick up, his eyes so... lost in mine, gentle and in awe.

"Understand what?" I asked just barely under my breath, so close as he looked through me.

"Nobody has even sacrificed so much for me before. Nobody has even given me so much the way you have...." I felt his hand raise slightly from where he sat and hesitantly, he moved his hand to where mine rested against the bed. Softly, he rubbed his thumb up and over my hand, making me groan in delight under my breath.

"But it didn't work," I said. "I was caught. I was brought home. Now, you have no choice if I'm to stay here at home. Now, you can't face her if you want me to remain safe."

He pursed his lips but his eyes only seemed to grow in beauty and strength. "It's worth it. It will be worth it if it means you are safe and that you are back."

I shook my head. This was just too crazy. Did he understand what we were going to have to go through now? Did he understand what we were able to face? "Do you know what this means?" I asked him.

After a quiet moment that existed between us, he nodded. "Yes. This is what we are going to do. You and I... we will go on as if nothing changed. As if I still love and am loyal to my wife, as if I don't know anything about her. We need to get evidence before we can bust her. And we can't accuse her openly now. Not only would she be free to kill you, we would loss a very valuable resource for evidence: and that's the house. We need to stay together, cooperate, and go on as if I know nothing. We will get the evidence we can without her knowing as best as we can."

I nodded, knowing that this was exactly what I didn't want happening. He deserved freedom and now, he is staying to get the evidence and by being sneaky. For my safety, is doing it 'undercover' and can't let her get on to us.

I realized just how hard this might be. Luke knew of everything - that I wasn't insane, that his wife did all those terrible things, and that she was as crazy as she accused me of being. But if we needed to get the evidence we needed, that would mean keeping up a straight face, a convincing mask. He would have to act as if he loved her more than anything, as if they were the perfect couple, and that he was on her side even if he wasn't. It was just acting and lying. But it was harder than that. He would have to play this out perfectly. And it had to be something that was constant, all the time. He would have to show love to someone I knew he was beginning to despise and show pity on me, someone he knew to trust. It was going to be one big act and he had to master it.

Brushing those worries aside as best as I could, I focused back on him and recalled a very serious question I needed to ask him. "What evidence will we be trying to get? If we are going after evidence, there can't be any risk of her finding out. If she knows what we are up to, she will kill me and maybe you."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair with his free hand while his other was still clasping mine. "Well, there are a few things we can do for evidence. But the one thing that will for sure send her away is if we can discover your sister's body. The files are coming in any day now and once we discover the records stating she actually had another child, then we just need to find the body. We will try to get other evidence on her but they will be our best bet."

Though I hated that he was going to be stuck here inside that house with me and the devil's mistress, looking for evidence, I never imagined this would happen.... Something I've wanted forever, since Emily died, and since a part of me died with her. I didn't think peace over her death was a possible option for me but if we look for her body and find it, getting Clare put away... I would be more than satisfied.

"Emily... She's somewhere in the backyard," I said in a slight daze, still stunned from his words, the realization that this could happen.

Luke gave me a sad look, one of understanding sympathy. He nodded. "And we will look there. I promise, we will. But that's after we prove she existed and after we can hopefully narrow down where exactly she is in the yard."

I sat back more into the bed, taking even breaths as my mind wandered to the future and what we would be facing soon enough. Laying there, lost in my own thoughts, I felt Luke's hand in mine grasp harder and the feeling remained; the sparks that were flying over the contact, the warm caress, and the fact that it was pure support... god, I wanted him to hold my hand forever.

I felt him lean closer to me more and though my eyes rested off to the side and on the flowers everyone got me, I could feel his presence closing in and before he was but a foot from looking down at my face, my heart fluttered deep inside me. So close to me, I felt my breath grow uneven again and I watched his eyes swim in mine. His free hand raised and he brushed my cheek with the back of his hand, his touch soft and gentle. Though I was hurting all over, he only caused relief and a caressing nature that made me feel so incredibly loved and safe.

Being so close to him now, it brought everything back again. It was a sick process it seemed, of those events playing over and over in my head and I wasn't sure what to do with it any longer. I groaned, closing my eyes and off from his intriguing stare. He was too powerful and had a strong influence on me that I didn't like. I couldn't take this anymore and with the first thought that came into my head, I rolled with it. But that didn't mean I wasn't truly curious.

"Tell me something. Why were you late?"

I opened my eyes and saw his grow darker, a shade that told me enough about how happy he was about that. Groaning, he scowled and his eyes grew fiercer. "It was the sheriff...."

"What about him?"

In a hiss, he answered. "He refused to let me go. He told me that I needed to wait as other units went in to check things out." He scoffed, clearly upset over this and pissed. Hell, so was I. "That I needed to calm down and that I was acting irrationally. Of course, I tried leaving to go back to you either way. And that didn't exactly work. Because by the time the sheriff let me go, it was too late. I got to the house and the door was open. I called for you, looked all over the place and knew you were gone. I called in a few other units and I went out on the road, driving around and checking in with the other stations, putting up an alert I guess you could say. With others out and looking, I went back to the house and found my truck gone. It wasn't long until after that that I found you," he choked out the last word and I heard the pain in his voice when he swallowed hard, looking away.

I saw the torture across his face and I said what came instantly to my mind. "You tried your best. Plus, I know Mark was a little early."

"It doesn't matter!" Luke's voice grew in the amount of anger it held, his gaze snapping back to mine and my breath caught. His lips pressed hard together, I saw him lean in more, closer to me until I could nearly feel his breath against my face. "I should have been there. I told you I would be, that I wouldn't let him hurt you again, that I would save you and keep you safe for as long as I was alive and fighting. And not only did I fail at that. I did it more than once."

"But you--"

"There are no buts about it! I can't stand it," he cried out to me. "I failed you. Enough times to count. I don't want to do it again. I'm ashamed I'm a cop! I'm married to a stranger, a crazy bitch! I let her get away with so much abuse and hate against you, I wont forgive myself over looking the other way while it happened. I don't want to be a cop anymore because I don't deserve it, don't want it, am too ashamed that I let you and my job down. But I will go on with my job because I need to. For evidence, for you."

I was shocked by his words at first and didn't like them at all at the same time. I didn't want him to not have the desire to continue with a job he loves because he was human. I shook my head at him, my eyes meeting his and on instinct, I cupped both his cheeks with shaky hands. I saw his eyes slowly close as his face rested in my palms, his body relaxing even more and I just wanted to hug him to me in comfort. He didn't deserve this, this torment.

"Luke..." I sighed, so close to him, my breath brushing over him I could feel. "You deserve everything you want. I don't blame you," I whispered, his face so close. I felt him lean in slightly until his forehead rested against mine, so close... and so loving and comforting at the same time. "This will be hard. For the both of us. But we will get through this and we will beat Clare. I promise."

"What about you...?" he whispered, just barely against my face and I felt my own eyes closing, only needing the feel of his presence so close to me. His words caressed my face and made my eyebrows lower in slight confusion.

"What about me?"

I heard him take a sharp intake of breath he never did answer me exactly. His words from before came back into my head. The ones he spoke to me before I blacked out. That he had feelings for me and that they would go away. And they would I knew as would mine. It would just take some time.

A moment later, Luke sat back up until he was a fair distance from me. I saw his tense body turn towards me again and he looked down into my eyes, full of knowledge and sympathy for me. It looked as if he was going to say something but he never did. The door opened and drew our attention to it.

"Luke?" I heard her voice and I could feel the automatic hatred that filled me at just hearing her.

Watching from where I was propped up in my bed, I saw Clare walk into the room. I didn't realize how much I didn't miss her until this moment. I haven't seen her since she went to my school and beat my ass good. Now, here she was, seeing me in such a vulnerable position. I didn't like it at all but couldn't do anything about it.

"Clare," I heard Luke say as he instantly stood up from where he sat on my bed. Glancing back to him, my thoughts from earlier came back to me. That Luke needed to keep his mask up, to handle being her husband like he did before, as if he loved her with all he had. And looking up at him when he stood up, I watched him do a good job at it. Though there were clear signs of body tension, he kept a gentle smile easily on his face as he met his eyes with hers.

It was soon clear that the two of them 'made up' at some point - probably after I went to the hospital. I realized just how smart Luke was before. Even before I spoke to him today, he made up with Clare, playing the loving husband like we knew he needed to. I watched as he slowly moved around my bed towards her. She knew better than to put all her attention on him though; even if she didn't give me affection or care, she knew when she was suppose to offer it.

Looking to me, she gave me a shocked and horrified face. "Oh my god, sweetie," she said, walking over to where I was and resting her hand on my arm. "Are you okay?"

"Get away from me," I hissed at her instantly. Though Luke needed to act as if everything was fine between him and his wife, it didn't mean I had to be nice to her. i just had to continue treating her like I did before. It was normal and not out of place.

She backed off after a moment and though she tried talking to me a few more times - which was just a show for Luke - she then turned to him. Her back to me, I watched as she wrapped her arms around her husband's shoulders and hugged him to her, her head resting against his shoulder. And all the while, Luke was forced to hug her back. Facing me as he embraced her, his eyes met mine and never left mine. They burned down deep into my core as he hugged her and I could see the hate and sadness behind those eyes. And if that said anything, it was that this was just the beginning. This would be our lives for who knows how long. All you could do was wonder. Until you find out that is.

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Alright guys, almost done now :) One more to go then this book will be finished. It feels as if I just started this story but it's been a few months short of a year. Anyway, what do you think then is going to be coming up in the book after Handcuffed based on what they were talking about today? Hope you liked it!